Five players to watch as Tottenham take on Luton Town and Wycombe Wanderers

Tottenham Hotspur face Luton Town and Wycombe Wanderers this Saturday as they look to build on a comfortable victory over Reading last time out.

Tottenham are off to a winning start in pre-season, but the result only means so much. These fixtures are an opportunity for the Tottenham first-team squad to build up their fitness and for Thomas Frank to decide on who he wants to become his key players.

There were positives to be taken from the Reading game, but also areas where there is room for improvement. Certain players already seemed ready for the upcoming season, while others looked like they had only just returned from relaxing at the beach.

Here is a list of five Spurs players to keep a close eye on this weekend, whether it is because they shone against Reading, or to see if they improve after a poor performance.

Djed Spence had a mixed display against Reading

Djed Spence played at right-back in the second half against Reading. He linked up well with Mohammed Kudus and got forward, including firing a shot on target which could have been a goal. Had Spence squared the ball to Kudus, he would likely have earned himself an assist.

This was not the only time the 24-year-old made the wrong decision. He held onto the ball for too long on the edge of his own box, presenting Reading with an opportunity to get a shot on goal.

Generally speaking, Spence is a very good player, with quality in both attack and defence. However, he sometimes takes unnecessary risks and does not always make the best choices on the ball. It will be interesting to see whether Frank attempts to make Spence a more composed player, or whether he encourages him to take risks and play with freedom.

Lucas Bergvall has only just returned for Tottenham

Lucas Bergvall recently made his first Spurs appearance since April and it showed. He only touched the ball 13 times against Reading in a pretty lacklustre display.

No one can blame Bergvall for getting off to a slow start, considering the amount of time he spent on the sidelines. However, he now has 45 minutes of game time under his belt and will have been in training all week before the Luton fixture.

It will be interesting to see how quickly Bergvall gets up to speed and is able to deliver the energetic performances Tottenham fans became accustomed to last season. The role he is likely to play under Frank is also interesting, as he could be required to drop deeper at times than he did under Ange Postecoglou.

Jamie Donley made his first Spurs appearance since August

Jamie Donley was able to thrive last season whilst on loan at Leyton Orient. However, making the step up from League One to the Premier League will be a tricky task. Of course, Luton will be competing in the English third tier next season after two consecutive relegations, so he has a big chance to impress.

The midfielder was involved against Reading and his second-half effort was not too far off finding the back of the net. However, Donley did not produce anything notable or out of the ordinary.

There were times during his loan spell when he displayed a wow factor, whether that was scoring screamers or impressing with his creativity. Will he be able to replicate that at Tottenham, or will Frank decide he needs to continue building his experience elsewhere?

All eyes will be on Mohammed Kudus after his Spurs debut

Luka Vuskovic may just have pipped Kudus as the man of the match against Reading, but the summer signing was a joy to watch. His liveliness on the right wing and movement into the box was in sharp contrast to a few of his teammates, who looked far less prepared for the pre-season fixture.

Kudus was able to get an assist and, had Donley converted his chance, he would have had another. There is every reason to be excited at what he will do next and whether he can get on the scoresheet this time around. 

Although Kudus is a well-reputed player, his performances at West Ham last season were clearly not up to the standards of the year before. Hopefully his newfound passion for Tottenham will be enough to get him back on track and playing his best football.

Heung-min Son may be playing his last few matches for Tottenham

Tottenham supporters should savour every moment they have left of Heung-min Son because the club captain could be on his way out. It is possible Son will leave Spurs before the new campaign begins, although Son is reportedly happy to stay at Tottenham until at least January.

Even if he does not leave, there will be curiosity over how big a role Son would have to play in the upcoming season. His second-half display against Reading will not have done him any favours, but in fairness, he only played 15 minutes while on international duty in June.

Son’s decline in pace is no secret, and the touchline winger role does not look a great fit. However, he was still one of Tottenham’s top-performing attackers for goals and assists last season. 

Looking at the other players in his position, there remains a chance he will receive game time and every match between now and the new season could be a key indicator of whether this will be the case.

READ MORE – Three winners and three losers from Tottenham’s 2-0 win over Reading

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